One for the purists

As we reported during the week, BMW is readying a road-going version of the V8-powered American Le Mans Series racer, the M3 GTR. Bob Jennings has more details.

04 October 2001

BMW styling has come in for more than its fair share of flak recently, but if one can put aside these aesthetic considerations, one thing that can't be argued with is the Munich company's ability to build a serious sporting car. Its M3 has long been considered one of the best performance-for-value cars available, and at last month's Frankfurt motor show overshadowed as it was by terrorist events in the United States BMW revealed the M3 CSL, a lust object for anyone who has ever merely coveted an M3. The CSL name in itself conjured glories of the past, when lightweight- bodied CSL versions of BMW coupes competed in the world motorsport arena. No sooner had potential buyers put their slimline phones back in their tailored pockets after making inquiries about its production future than another BMW announcement had them back on the mobile phone network. This time, BMW has revealed the M3 GTR. The good news is that it will be produced. The bad news is that the production run is being estimated at 10 to 20 cars. More bad news is that they will be about $460,000 in Europe. And to really ruin a good night's sleep, they will be built only in left-hand drive. The production version of the V8-powered American Le Mans Series racer will begin in February, and the factory needs to build at least 10 to satisfy racing regulations that it is, indeed, a production car. It could be used on the road but BMW warns: "By using carbon-fibre body parts and by completely forgoing any comfort equipment, the two-seater M3 GTR is a car for true purists. An empty weight of approximately 1,350 kg has been achieved.
The 4.0-litre V8 engine resembles the 335 kW race version, detuned for road use to around 258 kW. The roof, rear spoiler and front and rear aprons are made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, and the suspension is "extremely lowered" with "enormously sporty" suspension settings. The BMW M3 GTR will not be considered for the Australian market, BMW says, but adds that it might just buy one for its own use as a "star car" for special displays and for selected BMW owners to ride in during the company's driver instruction days. It would also fit ideally into the company's small but impressive car collection. Buyers can still hang out for the decision early in the new year on the M3 CSL, which best guesses put at less than half the price - say, about $200,000 with the 260 kW output from its six- cylinder motor similar to that of the GTR. It will weigh about 200 kg less than the standard M3's 1,495 kg, and there's a good chance that if production goes ahead, it will be built in both right- and left- hand-drive versions. The CSL show car had the M3's SMG gearbox and Drivelogic system, operated by two paddles on the steering wheel for shifting gears electronically. Despite the lightweight engineering, BMW says occupants will not have to forgo many of the "usual amenities" of the M3. Also, just to drive the performance message home and to upstage the yet-to-be-released Porsche Cayenne, BMW has announced a high- performance version of its X5 soft-roader, the X5 4.6is. It is powered by a 4.6-litre V8 developing about 255 kW, and is claimed to accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The X5 4.6is will go on sale here in February next year, priced at $149,750.

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The size of your tyre is located on the sidewall of your tyre.It will be similar to the sample below.